John Wolford
February 13, 2007I am writing this post in Jixi and not being at my home computer means I haven’t a photo of John and his beautiful wife Dhalie to put up but will do so in a week or so when I arrive home.
So what is my purpose for writing this post? Well .. to tell you a little bit about one of the greatest guys I know - my friend John Wolford. John just sent me an email with link to his blog which you can find by clicking HERE. Read a bit more of this post before taking a look at his blog if you please. This is a bit long but please read until the end.
I met John at UBC while doing my B.Ed (teaching) degree in 1998-1999. We were both in the Secondary Math Integrated Project (SMIP) and it was quite literally one of the best years of my life due to the people in the program not the least of which was John. We were an odd couple to be sure as he does not drink (not that I am a booze hound but I do like a good drink), he is a vegetarian, he has a positive outlook with a (mostly) calm rational approach to most problems and he meditates. In fact one might almost guess we were complete opposites but we got along pretty well. I think mainly it was because John overlooked my boozing, carnivorous self destructive ways (using poetic license here for humorous effect). The two things we shared in common were 1) a zest for fitness but when you meet him it is clear he takes it to a whole other level than I do and 2) a sense of humour. In order for a person to be my friend they have to like to laugh and take a good ribbing.
While in school together John and I could often be found arguing over some useless academic issue like an old married couple often starting our counterarguments with phrases like “dude you are insane - that is totally not how it works.” I have some very good memories from when were doing our teaching practicums when we would meet at night to do prepping or marking often at the Bread Garden near 4th and Burrard. I learned more about educational theory and practice in my discussions with John that I have in 7 years in a classroom. He has an enthusiasm for everything he does and it is infectious .. although he couldn’t get me to stop eating meat. In our first year of teaching we would often meet at a diner in Coquitlam on Austin street for a cheap 3 buck breakie served by a fast talking robotic Chinese guy who would finish your sentences before you had finished them.
John: “I’ll have the brow ..”
Waiter: “Brown toast ok”
John; “n toast without ..”
Waiter “no butter ok”
John: “butter”
Since coming to China I see less and less of John and Dhalie although Alice and I have had a few occasions to visit and they have been very cherished visits indeed. They have met our first son Carter and we hope that this summer they can meet our second son Nathan.
John has a brain tumour. He was diagnosed with it several years ago. The story of what it is and how it is developing/has developed is not something I can (nor should I) explain here. For that information I encourage those of you interested to check his blog simply titled John Wolford.
I just wanted to take this time to let you know a little bit about my friend John Wolford.
We love you John.
